City parks in a shambles

DESPITE CONCERTED efforts, the parks owned by the Allahabad Development Authority and the Allahabad Nagar Nigam are in a shambles. Significantly, despite the Allahabad High Court's clear-cut directives these parks are yet to be freed from encroachments.

DESPITE CONCERTED efforts, the parks owned by the Allahabad Development Authority and the Allahabad Nagar Nigam are in a shambles. Significantly, despite the Allahabad High Court's clear-cut directives these parks are yet to be freed from encroachments.

HT Image

Mithilesh C Raghuvanshi said that parks situated in Mumfordganj, Kydganj and Rambagh areas were occupied by some people for cow and buffalo rearing.
These parks are being used for dairy purposes. Earlier, attempts were made by the ADA and the Nagar Nigam to make these parks encroachment-free but the problem could not be solved. Some of these parks are being used as dumping ground for cow dung and dung cakes are prepared there.

Anand Mohan, social activist, said that around 250 parks under the Nagar Nigam, the Allahabad Development Authority and the Cantonment Board should be looked after by the authorities concerned.

"The court has already banned using parks for organising public functions and gatherings. For this purpose, alternative sites should be arranged by these authorities and public," he added.

He said the district administration should provide adequate police force to the ADA and the NN for removal of encroachments from these parks. Mohan opined that no statue should be installed in parks as some political parties were trying to do so. "In fact, it causes damages to sanctity of parks," he pointed out.